Schultz to access data for Iowa voter fraud cases

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz says his office will gain access to a federal immigration database it can use to investigate potential voter fraud.

The Des Moines Register reports (http://dmreg.co/19tJL5O ) Schultz made the announcement Wednesday and released a signed memorandum of understanding between his office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It means he can tap into a federal database that tracks the legal status of immigrants.

Schultz has said the data can help his office verify the citizenship of more than 1,000 registered voters who may not be U.S. citizens.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa says using the program to identify and purge voters is improper and the state Legislature doesn’t authorize it. The group says the move will subject qualified voters to improper challenges.